Nov 18 Heidi Mestad taking over as head of Rochester children's museum

Mestad will begin her new position Dec. 9. She takes over for Dawn Devine, the museum's director since its opening in 2012, who left the organization in August.

“This is such an exciting opportunity to continue and grow Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester," Mestad said in a news release. “The museum is a tremendous community asset – a place where all generations can connect through play and innovation."

She has recently held positions at the Rochester Downtown Alliance and Mayo Clinic, where she was "instrumental in laying the foundation for the legislative approval and the development of the DMC strategic plan," says the release.

The children's museum announced in May that it plans to pursue the downtown "castle" now occupied by the senior center. The organization currently operates out of a 5,000-square-foot space in the River Center Plaza.